Owner, manager, brewer and chief bottle-washer, for now… Justin Jacobi wears all the hats at this microbrewery. Having left the world of insurance behind in 2000, he bought the Brunant Arms in Caio, then turned his hand to brewing to pursue his passion for beer. He now turns out 1,200 bottles a week, including a seasonal range and four permanent brews. Try the rounded honey ale, Beekeeper’s Delight; Jacobi Light, a summer ale with elderflower overtones; the old-style Jacobi Dark, with its bitter-chocolate finish; and National Trust Fine Food Award-winner, Red Squirrel – which promotes the red squirrel project in the nearby Brechfa Forest. You’ll find his beers in many local wine merchants and suppliers, such as the Llandovery Craft Centre. But Justin has bigger plans: he’s converting a barn on a National Trust farm, Penlanwen, into a visitor centre and brewery tap, with a shop selling local produce. The site – with stunning views over the surrounding countryside – is a short walk from the Dolaucothi Gold Mines, so he’s hoping visitors will take a detour to quench their thirst.
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